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Project activities All four programs included an on-farm field day and the development of associated educational materials. Three of the programs have an on-farm research component. The four programs where we conducted on-farm field days and the activities included in each program are: a: Dairy manure collection and composting • Demonstrated operation and use of a vacuum manure collection system, manure scraping system, manure separation, hydraulic plume manure transport, and compost turner system. • How different manure management techniques can be integrated on a dairy. • How to use the manure vacuum, composting turner, and stockpiled bedding combined to achieve better manure management and improve composting techniques and compost quality. Demonstrating the vacuum trailer At the composting yard b: Dairy manure land application • Demonstrated operation and use of a floating manure storage mixer and pump, tanker manure application, and drag hose manure injection system. • Research data was collected to compare odor and ammonia emissions between manure application using sub-surface injection as compared to broadcasting application. ON-FARM FIELD DAYS AS A TOOL TO DEMONSTRATE AGRICULTURAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND EDUCATE PRODUCERS Mario E. de Haro-Marti 1 , Lide Chen 2 , Howard Neibling 2 , Mireille Chahine 2 , Wilson Gray 2 , Tony McCammon 1 , Ariel Agenbroad 1 , Sai Krishna Reddy Yadanaparthi 3 , James Eells 4 1 Extension Educator, 2 Extension Specialist, 3 Graduate Student, 4 Research Assistant. University of Idaho Extension. Introduction and significance This poster shows a series of Extension and research efforts designed to introduce and locally test proven Best Management Practices (BMP) to dairy producers and crop farmers in southern Idaho in an effort to increase their adoption and incorporate those BMP as regular practices in Idaho agriculture. On-Farm field days are a powerful educational tool, offering attendees the opportunity to see first-hand how the presented BMP work, interact with the producers who use it, and share experiences with other producers, educators, agency agents, and other professionals. On-farm field projects also give researchers a possibility to conduct on-farm research by collecting quality data. Proper design and participation of all parties involved is paramount. Data collected during these type of projects can serve as a stand alone research or, much better, as a tool to help during the educational portion of the program during the field day and at further publications and presentations. Project objectives The principle of conducting on-farm research and coupling it with on-farm demonstrations was applied to four projects. Each project has it own objectives and intended impact, but all of them have in common the on-farm field day component, an applied research component, and the participation of the producer during each step of the project. Project activities (cont.) c: Grapevine prunings and dairy manure composting • Demonstrated three different windrow composting techniques: mechanically turned, static passive aeration, and static with forced aeration. • Research data is being collected to determine how increasing the carbon content using grape vine prunings and other carbon materials affects the composting of dairy manure in each system mentioned above. Producer presenting in his barn On-farm composting research and demonstration area d: Mortality and offal on-farm composting • Demonstrated in-vessel forced aerated mortality and offal composting to properly dispose of mortalities and animal processing waste. • One composter is operating at a diversified farm that includes a sheep and goat dairy, and lamb meat processing. • A second composter will be located at a dairy to process calves mortalities. A field day and data collection will also be included in this project. Project outcomes A common outcome in all four programs was the attendance of producers, and personnel from Extension, federal and state agencies, and allied industries. Their presence helped us to reach a diverse audience, having a multiplier effect in the community. Specific outcomes for each project include: a: Dairy manure collection and composting: 20 attendees at field day. Improved composting techniques at the host dairy after the program. Based on program observations, the Extension team obtained funds to develop a Dairy Composting School in Spanish and English for dairy operators to fulfill the urgent need for that type of training. b: Dairy manure land application: 10 attendees at field day. Through our research data, we demonstrated that the deep injection system produces less ammonia and odor emissions than the manure broadcasting system. Producers were more interested in applying this technology to reduce their environmental impact and their loss of fertilizer value in the applied manure. c: Grapevine prunings and dairy manure composting: 50 attendees. Field day participants significantly increased their knowledge on available composting techniques. Several producers showed interest in starting their own systems. We don’t have a complete dataset yet, but enhanced vine prunings and manure compost windrows are showing much better performance and they look better than only manure windrows. An expected outcome of this program is increased use of composting as an alternative to grape vine prunings’ burning, reducing the impact of the grape industry on air pollution, and improving the characteristics of dairy manure compost in the area. d: Mortality and offal on-farm composting: 40 attendees. Before the program most participants didn’t know that mortality composting was even possible or how to do it properly. The hosting farmer was so impressed with the composter performance that she started a second mortality composter using her own materials. The producer now disposes of all her mortalities, offal waste, whey, and other organic wastes through this composting technology, stopping shipments of wastes to the local landfill. Several livestock producers showed interest in applying this technology on their own farm operation. Take home message On-farm field days are an excellent tool to include in Extension, research, and educational programs. Properly planned programs can include on-farm research and field days to increase the benefits and get a very cost effective use of funds. Producers’ participation at each step of the program is paramount. As well as identifying new producers willing to host and collaborate with such programs. By seeing the demonstrated techniques first hand, and talking with hosting producers, attendees are more likely to consider the application of those techniques at their own operation. Acknowledgements Projects a. and b. were supported by a USDA-NRCS Conservation and Innovation Grant (CIG). Project c. was supported by a USDA-NRCS Idaho CIG. Project d. was supported by a University of Idaho USDA-SARE mini grant. We also want to thank all producers involved in these projects for their support and openness to work with us, and for their innovative spirit. 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 Broadcast Injection Background Ammonia (mg of NH 3 -N/m 3 ) Second day sample results from test site 1 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 Broadcast Injection Background Ammonia (mg of NH 3 -N/m 3 ) First day sample results from test site 1 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Background Subsurface Injection Surface Broadcast Odor Detection Threshold (OU/m 3 ) Test site 1 Odor Results Site Manure pH Manure total N concentration (mg/L) Manure total N Application Rate (kg/acre) Site 1 7.4 3433 257 Site 2 7.3 3519 265 The liquid manure application rate was approximately 20,000 gal/acre at both sites Mortality composter built by Extension personnel (front) and composter built by producer using straw bails Showing the dairy calves’ mortality composter Injection of manure using a drag hose and injector system Data on manure, ammonia and odor emissions
